Institutional Characteristics 2012-13
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, admissions, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, a college search service for students. Please report
data correctly, as College Navigator is only updated one time after IC data have been reviewed, so errors may
stay on the website for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency lists.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution.
Please never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting correctly!
Changes to This Year's Institutional Characteristics Component:
•
There is a new question that asks at what levels your institution offers distance education: undergraduate,
graduate, or no distance education offered. Please carefully review the definition of distance education before
responding.
•
!! Cost of attendance data will only be collected for the current year. Any changes to prior year data need to
be made in the prior year revision system. Starting next year, only one year of data will be able to be revised
in prior year systems.
Reviews of the IC survey data indicate a number of places where many people make errors. Please review the
common errors listed below to ensure your institution does not make any reporting errors which may affect your
institution's appearance to students and others.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors. In some cases, this provides false information to students or may cause
an institution to appear on the College Affordability and Transparency lists. Fatal errors are there for a reason
- contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 and they will happily help you to figure out what you are doing
incorrectly, or provide an override if necessary. &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
•
Admissions data are for first-time students only. &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
•
Many institutions are open admission but indicate that they are not. If your institution only requires a
GED or other high school equivalent and/or an ability to benefit test, and admits almost all students that
apply, your institution is open admission.
•
If your institution makes ANY (even one) exceptions to an on-campus housing requirement, you
should not indicate that you require students to live on campus. This leads to inconsistent and
problematic reporting on the Student Financial Aid survey.
•
Academic year reporters need to report tuition, fees, and living expenses for the entire academic year
for which they are reporting. In order to be consistent with other institutions in IPEDS, please use the
IPEDS definition of an academic year.
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
To see last year's data submission for this component: Reported Data
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
www.wcu.edu/12953.a
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
2. Are all the programs at your institution offered completely via distance education?
Yes
No
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part B - Admissions and Estimated Enrollment
1. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduate-level students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be expected to answer additional questions (B2, B3,
and B4) regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
Yes
No
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part B - Admission Requirements and Services - Admission Considerations
2. Please select the option that best describes how your institution uses any of the following data in its
undergraduate selection process.
Admission Considerations
Secondary school GPA
Secondary school rank
Secondary school record
Completion of college-preparatory program
Recommendations
Formal demonstration of competencies (e.g., portfolios,
certificates of mastery, assessment instruments)
Admission test scores
SAT / ACT
Other Test (ABT, Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Note: If this is the only requirement other than a diploma or
equivalent, and few students are not admitted due to this test,
please return to question 1 and indicate that your institution is
open admission.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Required Recommended Neither Required Don't
nor Recommended Know
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part B - Admission Requirements and Services - Selection Process
3. Provide the number of first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who applied, who were
admitted, and who enrolled (either full- or part-time) at your institution for the most recent Fall period available.
Include early decision, early action, and students who began studies during the summer prior to the selected
fall reporting period.
Remember that this question is only applicable to first-time students, do not include other students in these totals.
Only report students at levels that you indicated were offered in the IC Header. If you made an error in the IC Header,
please call the IPEDS Help Desk and correct your error.
Select reporting
Fall 2011
Fall 2012
period:
Men
Number of applicants
Number of admissions
Number (of admitted)
that enrolled full-time
Number (of admitted)
that enrolled part-time
Total enrolled full-time
and part-time
Percent of admissions
enrolled full-time and
part-time
Women
Total
5,677
8,316
13,993
2,280
3,129
5,409
664
844
1,508
3
9
12
667
853
1,520
29
27
28
4. If test scores are required for admission for first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students,
provide the number and percentage of enrolled students submitting SAT and/or ACT scores, as well as the 25th
and 75th percentile scores for each test. Provide writing test scores only if used for admission. Provide data for
the most recent group of enrolled students for whom data are available. Include new students admitted the
summer prior to the selected fall reporting period.
DO NOT convert test scores (e.g., do not convert an SAT score to an ACT scale, etc.). If you have numbers for both
SAT and ACT scores, provide the percentiles for both tests.
Select reporting
Fall 2011
Fall 2012
Test scores NOT
period
required
Number of enrolled students that submitted SAT scores
1,440
Percent of enrolled students that submitted SAT scores
Number of enrolled students that submitted ACT scores
Percent of enrolled students that submitted ACT scores
25th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading
SAT Math
460
95
315
21
75th Percentile
560
SAT Writing
ACT Composite
ACT English
ACT Math
ACT Writing
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description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
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description.
485
570
440
530
19
24
18
23
18
25
5
7
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part B - Estimated Fall Enrollment
Estimated 2012 Fall Enrollment
Provide an early estimate of the institution's fall enrollment for all levels offered. Levels should match those
indicated 'Yes' in the IC Header survey. If you made an error in the IC Header survey, please contact the Help
Desk.
These data will NOT appear in College Navigator, but will be made available via the IPEDS Data Center.
Estimates should be based on the definitions used in the IPEDS Fall Enrollment component submitted during the spring
collection (for academic institutions report an estimate of the students that are/will be enrolled as of October 15, 2012;
for program reporter institutions report an estimate of students enrolled in your institution at any time between August 1
and October 31, 2012). Prior year (PY) Fall Enrollment counts are provided for reference.
FT PY
PT PY Total
Full-time
Part-time
EnrollEnrollment
ment
Undergraduate (academic or
6,464
1,163 7,979
6,795
1,184
occupational programs)
Of undergraduates, those who are
1,508
12 1,560
1,551
9
first-time, degree/certificateseeking students
Graduate
650
1,075 1,629
627
1,002
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
3. If your institution grants a bachelor's degree or higher but does not offer a full 4-year program of study at the
undergraduate level, how many years of completed college-level work are required for entrance?
Number of years
Select One
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part C - Student Services - Distance Opportunities
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Does your institution have its own library or are you financially supporting a shared library with another
postsecondary education institution?
Have our own library
Do not have our own library but contribute financial support to a shared library
Neither of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
7. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part C - Disability Service
Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduates enrolled during fall 2011 who were formally registered as
students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D11).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one first-time, full-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even one) exceptions to this
rule
2. Does your institution charge different tuition for in-district, in-state, or out-of-state students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report tuition amounts for in-district, in-state, and out-of-state
students.
Please only select Yes if you really charge different tuition rates, or you will be reporting the same numbers 3 times.
No
Yes
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic year 2012-13
4,054
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per week in the maximum
meal plan available
21
Yes - Number of meals per week can vary (e.g., students'
charge meals against a meal card)
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part D - Undergraduate Student Charges
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Prior year
Amount
Undergraduate application fee
50
50
5. Charges to full-time undergraduate students for the full academic year 2012-13
Please be sure to report an average tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Prior
year
In-state
All full-time undergraduates
Average
2,998
3,397
3,397
tuition
Required
2,389
2,528
2,528
fees
6. Per credit hour charge for part-time undergraduate students
Prior
year
2,998
2,389
Out-of-state
12,994
2,528
Prior
year
12,595
2,389
Please be sure to report an average per credit tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Per credit
hour charge
293
Prior
year
250
In-state
293
Prior
year
250
Out-of-state
628
Prior
year
616
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part D - Graduate Student Charges
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Amount
Graduate application fee
Prior year
50
50
Please do not include tuition for Doctor’s Degree – Professional Practice programs.
Data for those programs are collected separately.
7. Charges to full-time graduate students for the full academic year 2012-13
In-district
Average
tuition
Required
fees
3,794
Prior
year
3,348
2,389
2,528
In-state
3,794
Prior
year
3,348
2,389
2,528
Out-of-state
13,379
2,528
Prior
year
12,933
2,389
8. Per credit hour charge for part-time graduate students
In-district
Per credit
hour charge 389
Prior
year
334
In-state
389
Prior
year
334
Out-of-state
1,082
Prior
year
1,013
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part D - Student Charges - Room and Board
10. What are the typical room and board charges for a student for the full academic year 2012-13?
If your institution offers room or board at no charge to students, enter zero.
If you report room and board separately, leave the combined charge blank. If you report a combined charge, leave the
room and board charges blank.
Room and board charges
Amount
Prior year
Room charge (Double occupancy)
3,344
3,494
Board charge (Maximum plan)
Combined room and board charge
(Answer only if you CANNOT separate room and board charges.)
3,438
NA
3,306
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
11. Cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate students:
Please enter the amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator. If
your institution participates in any Title IV programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.), you must complete all information. Estimates of
expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of Attendance report
used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid office to get these
numbers, to ensure that you are reporting correctly.
&nbsp
If the 2012-13 tuition and/or fees as reported on this page for full-time, first-time students are covered by a tuition
guarantee program, check the applicable box(es) under 'Tuition Guarantee'. Additionally, please indicate the maximum
% increase that is guaranteed. These numbers are expected to be fairly small. Please contact the Help Desk if you are
confused about these values and how to report them.
Charges for 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
2012-13
full academic
year
Published tuition and required fees:
Guaranteed increase %
Tuition
Guarantee
(check only if
applicable to
entering
students in
2012-13)
In-district
Tuition
2,106
2,816
2,998
3,397
Required
fees
Tuition +
fees total
In-state
Tuition
2,224
2,308
2,389
4,330
5,124
5,387
2,106
2,816
2,998
Required
fees
Tuition +
fees total
Out-of-state
Tuition
2,224
2,308
2,389
4,330
5,124
5,387
11,703
12,413
12,595
2,224
2,308
2,389
13,927
14,721
14,984
2,006
2,006
2,024
5,982
6,370
6,650
Required
fees
Tuition +
fees total
Books and
supplies
On campus:
Room and
board
2,528
5,925
3,397
2,528
5,925
12,994
2,528
15,522
2,158
7,178
Other
2,152
2,607
expenses
Room and
8,134
8,977
board and
other
expenses
Off campus (not with family):
Room and
7,962
8,655
board
Other
4,327
3,329
expenses
Room and
12,289 11,984
board and
other
expenses
Off campus (with family):
Other
2,152
2,607
expenses
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
2,686
2,580
9,758
9,336
9,253
3,430
9,778
2,991
12,769
12,683
2,686
2,580
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Part E - Athletic Association
1. Is this institution a member of a national athletic association?
No
Yes - Check all that apply
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)
Other
2. If this institution is a member of the NCAA or NAIA, specify the conference FOR EACH SPORT using the pull down menu.
Sport
Football
NCAA or NAIA member
No
Yes-Specify
Basketball
No
Yes-Specify
Baseball
No
Yes-Specify
Cross
country
and/or
track
No
Yes-Specify
Conference
Southern Conference
Southern Conference
Southern Conference
Southern Conference
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Name:
Email:
Finance Contact
Other
Alison Joseph
ajoseph@email.wcu.e
How long did it take to prepare this survey
component?
hours
minutes
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
Summary
User ID: P2000041
Institutional Characteristics Component Summary
Academic Year Reporters
IPEDS collects important information regarding your institution. All data reported in IPEDS survey components become
available in the IPEDS Data Center and appear as aggregated data in various Department of Education reports.
Additionally, some of the reported data appears specifically for your institution through the College Navigator website
and is included in your institution’s Data Feedback Report (DFR). The purpose of this summary is to provide you an
opportunity to view some of the data that, when accepted through the IPEDS quality control process, will appear on the
College Navigator website and/or your DFR. College Navigator is updated approximately three months after the data
collection period closes and Data Feedback Reports will be available through the ExPT and sent to your institution’s
CEO in November 2013.
Please review your data for accuracy. If you have questions about the data displayed below after reviewing the data
reported on the survey screens, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at: 1-877-225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Mission Statement
http://www.wcu.edu/12953.asp
Are all the programs at your institution offered
completely via distance education?
No
Special Learning Opportunities
Study abroad
Teacher certification (below the postsecondary level)
Student Services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
Credit Accepted
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
Undergraduate students enrolled who are
formally registered with office of disability
services
3 percent or less
PRICING INFORMATION
Estimated expenses for academic year for full-time, first-time students
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
In-district tuition and fees
$4,330
$5,124
$5,387
In-state tuition and fees
$4,330
$5,124
$5,387
$5,925
$13,927
$14,721
$14,984
$15,522
Books and supplies
$2,006
$2,006
$2,024
$2,158
On Campus Room and Board
$5,982
$6,370
$6,650
$7,178
On Campus Other Expenses
$2,152
$2,607
$2,686
$2,580
Off Campus Room and Board
$7,962
$8,655
$9,253
$9,778
Off Campus Other Expenses
$4,327
$3,329
$3,430
$2,991
Off Campus with family Other Expenses
$2,152
$2,607
$2,686
$2,580
Out-of-state tuition and fees
Average undergraduate student tuition and fees for academic year 2012-13
Tuition
$5,925
Fees
In-district
$3,397
$2,528
In-state
$3,397
$2,528
PRICING INFORMATION
Out-of-state
$12,994
Average graduate student tuition and fees for academic year 2012-13
Tuition
In-district
In-state
Out-of-state
Alternative tuition plans
$2,528
Fees
$3,794
$2,528
$3,794
$2,528
$13,379
$2,528
N/A
ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
Open admission
No
Undergraduate application fee 2012-13
$50
Undergraduate Admissions Fall 2011
Number of applicants
Percent admitted
Percent admitted who enrolled
Admissions Considerations
Test Scores Fall 2011 (enrolled full-time students)
Total
Male
Female
13,993
5,677
8,316
39%
40%
38%
29%
27%
28%
Required
Recommended
Secondary school GPA
Secondary school record
Completion of college-preparatory program
Admission test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language)
Secondary school rank
# Submitting Scores
% Submitting Scores
SAT
1,440
ACT
315
25th Percentile
95%
21%
75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading
460
560
SAT Math
485
570
SAT Writing
440
530
ACT Composite
19
24
ACT English
18
23
ACT Math
18
25
5
7
ACT Writing
Institution: Western Carolina University (200004)
User ID: P2000041
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Institutional Characteristics
Western Carolina University (200004)
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